The Kyrenia Ship: Recovering a Greek Merchant Vessel

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Jun 10, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In the 1960s, a Greek sponge diver discovered an ancient shipwreck off the coast of Kyrenia, Cyprus. This episode follows the excavation and reconstruction of the Kyrenia ship, a 4th-century BCE Greek merchant vessel that sank with its cargo of wine amphoras and almonds. We explore how dendrochronology and hull analysis revealed its construction, trade routes, and the daily life of its crew. The ship's cargo tells a story of interconnected Mediterranean economies, while the preserved hull offers insights into ancient shipbuilding techniques. Listeners will encounter the names of key…